Distributob



S. CHASE DISTRIBUTOR May 1o, 1932.

:Filed April 8, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 1o, 1932. s, CHASE 1,857,495

'DISTRIBUTOR Filed April 8, 1929- 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 10, 1932 uuiree smits Para; Nr otr-lifes Appnpmqm nies, spin si. 1929i serial` ne. 353,525. kk

This. insertion. relates.. to distributors,\ andi with re ard toieertaiin, more specific features,

mame@ distributor for, spreading materials suoli as fertlzeri. lime. seeds. andthe llk. y i

Among the several objects of the inventiertl may! be. noted, the., prouisbnvot a, distrib.- utor which evenly di'strilutesy material. at a. rate proportional to? theb ratev oi'progress ot the uelhieleou whvehthsdstributor i'smounted..thereby obtainingn a constant amount of! deposit pei: of land coyered.; the provi`- sion` o ta devise of the. class, described in whichv the.. rate of" distribution;l is regulable and/or adapted to, be` qlleldystarted'. andi stopped, While the Vehicle is in motion and wherein a backing; operation or stopping of the vehicle automatically stops di'stributiQ.I1;- the-.provisionA 0i a device ofthe'. class .described having.v an open-passage,y plontiioii wherein, the materiali beig. distribute posesof constantifnspection before shattering O' the same; the retevision; ofV a.. @twice of' the, class described erhielt hare, several, independently. adjustable dehvery athis.; andA the, prorsoni ot a device of.' the described of a pressure; delirerytelpe. Other-.objects will be in parte Qbxiious. and in. part pointed out hereinafter.v

T he invention., astrrdingly comprises. the

elements and conibinationsV ot" elementsr fea-f tures, of constructiom and arrangements of partswhichewtl be exemplified the strueture: hereinafter described; and' the.. scepef of the`A application of which, will be indicated in thetollowing claims,

In@ the accompanying dijawing si1i,which is illustrated onel ot'vaiious possible embodimentsioithe inventions.,

Fig.. l is ai side. elevation showin gthe, deviceattached tothe rear end ot? a truck; Fig-, 2 is a plan tiewof Figf L;

li'giisa plan View off-a broadcastingdisc;

Fig., 4. is a. vertical: cross. seetion., taken sub,- stantially. on line 41444, off Fig.l 24,;7

Figa; is a horizontal Sectiontaken on. line :3f-510i' Eig; 4;-,

' Fi d(iis aplanjilew Q'afaIlSQbQOIIL; and:

Iig. Tis plan View Qff an. agitator unit.

Siiiilarreference eharaetersf'ind'eate. cor

risible for pur-K views of the drawings. p

Reterring nowy more partie-ularly to Fig; l,y there i's illustrated at numeral' l the bed of a Wagon or truck,T to the overll:ingingrearend of which is aliXed, by means of'al suitable angle iron 3 (or otherwise), ay verticali support 2; The supportisin the form ot' a board and extends over substantially theentire Width ot the bedl'and'hasmountedltheref on by means of suitable brackets 40' a substantially cylindrical' hopper 4.V The bracket-s4'O are cut and bent from the hopper 4, forming an integral part thereof;i u

Thehopper 4 includes al bottom orbearresponding.y "parts throughout the several V'port materiali as does a suplporting disc 14 (tovbe described). The false ottom 6 issolid, v except for two opposite peripheral openings 7 'which are positioned' at ninety degrees with respect to two oppostely located: chutes 8on and communieatingv with the hopper; 4 (see Figs. 4, 5 and It `Willbe noted that this false bottom 6, is solid', except' :tor the openings 7 "located in a pivedetermined relation with respect'to certain regulators and diverters (4to be more particularly described); but the primary feature is a cover over the regulators and diverters to confine the materiall Withinv a tunnel While bei'ngmeasured' and diverted tothe Chutes.

A vertical mainshaft 9 passes through the bottomsr 5 and 6; by Way of suitable bearings 41, and' 42 respeGt-,Vely,said shaft 9 beingl rotatable in said bearings. Mounted on this shaft 9 andy rotatable.therewith are several elements, comprising lirst, anV agitator l0 (sho-Wn in plan in Fig.' 7'), said agitator 10 comprising an outer ring 111 supported' by paddle shaped! radial ribs l2 for agitation and scrapingpurposesand a screen 13 mount#- edi on the ribs or spider 12l for moyement therewith and for the purpose ofl sifting ing support 5, abovewhich is mounted ay u i fertilizer or the like which is positioned in the hopper 4.

Second, there is mounted on said shaft 9 and between the bottoms 5 and 6, a rotatable material supporting disc or memrsl ber 14 having an y upwardly projecting with respect to the member 14. For instance,

it may be located in the alternate position indicated by dotted lines A in Fig. 4. Inl any instance, it isipreferable that lthe rib be sufficiently deep that the distance between the rotatable support, and the false bottom,

be equal toor greater than the radial width of said opening 7, f .Y v

Third, Ybelow the bottom 5 there is provided on the shaft 9 anintegrally rotatable nest ofgears 43 and 44 which are adapted to be shifted vlengthwise of thevshaft 9 'sorthat the gear 44 of the nest may be made to mesh with a gear 45 of another'integrally rotatable nest of gears,'or the ygear 43 may meshwith gear v46 of said last-named nest. By Vthis means the gear or velocity ratio between the shaftv 9 and its driving shaft 4 7, `and thus its ratio to ground 'travel correspondingly, may be changed at any time conditions may require.

The nest of gears 45, 46 are mounted on the counter shaft 47 which is geared to a jack shaft 48 by way of a set of bevel gears 49. It

will be seen from Fig. 1 that the jack shaft is supported from the rear end of the bed 1 and is driven by way of a sprocket 52 and chain 49 from a sprocket 50 mounted so as to be movable with one of the rear wheels 51 of the truck or wagon and the ratio of revolutions of the shaft 9 to the ground travel may be further changed by -a change in the ratio of sprockets 50 Aand 52. The chain drive comprises a mechanical connection between the wheel 51 and the main shaft 9. Hence it will be seen that the rate of rotation of the jack shaft 48 is proportional tothe angular movement of wheelV 51 which in turn is proportional to the movement of the vehicle.

As indicated in Fig. 4, the jack shaft 48 is geared with two vertical shafts 53 and 54 by way of bevel gearsets 55 and 56 respectively. Itis to be understood that the various shafts herein described are suitably mounted in bearings associated either with the stationary hopper 4 and or the support 2. Y f Y At the lower ends of the shafts 53 and 54 are fastened rotatable broadcasting discs 1? on the upper surfaces of which are aiiixed dial fins 57 (see Figs. 3 and 4). From 4 it'will be seen that the said chutes 8 extend 'positioned'sidewardly on the hopper 4 and ses Y communicate therewith by means of ports 58 illustrated in Fig. 4. From the above it will be seen that any fertilizer or the like which descends withinV the chutes 8 falls upon the rotating broadcasting discs and is thrown off through theports and into .the chutes. ThisY is because the diverters Icompletely close the spaceor tunnel between the" false bottom', the horizontal face of the material carrying'disc and the' internal rib 15. 'It will be seen howl ever that the diverters willonlybe op'en upon counter-clockwiserotation ofthe disc 14 and that if saidldisc 14 isrotatedin the reverse 'direction that thematerial on the edge thereof will automatically close the diverters so thatno material is allowedjtopa'ss through Y the ports butv is allowedfto pass uninterruptedly in reverse direction through theV tunnel. It will be note'dthat the diverters are on the receding sides ofthe chutes 8.l

It is understood 'that the counter-clockwise movement for deliveryjis only a matter of design and that by changinof the position of the gears the machine'maybe constructed to revolve in a clockwise direction. Under such conditions the relativepositi'ons of the divertersand regulators will also be reversed. On the approach sides of the chutes 8 are provided pivoted gate valves ,or regulators 2l) which slide into and out of the 'hopper 4 and between the two members 6 and14 at their edges. They be adjusted toincrease or decrease the openings through which the fortilizer mustpassin order to getto the chutes. These regulators 20 which slide into and out of the hopper 4, virtually filling thevertical distance betweenmembers'iand 14, are held in position by cotter pins A61 'l which pass through any one of a number of fopenings formed through an arcuate shaped piece 21 attached to the hopper 4.k It is apparent that by provioing a holding means for therdiverters 19,l that theyalso may be used for regulating the quantity of fertilizerpassing to the chutes, that is; by predeterminately positioning them angularly. Alternate, dotted line positions show `the closed positions of the diverters19 and regulators 2O in Fig.

It is to be understood that the outlines of the diverters and regulators are substantially thatv vof the space ortunnel between the disc 14,' false bottom 6 and rib '15; If the rib is natation' other. than the shapesy describeththen the ends of' the diverters and regulators should con form thereto.

The operation of the! device is ars follows A charge of fertilizer is carried in the hop.-` per 4 which is replenished from time to time from a main supply on the, bed ofthe wagen wzor truck. As the truck nieves forwardly, the lo wheel 51 rotates at a proportionate rate of Aat `disc 1d and the rib 15 speed and rotates the sproc-lret a9. so that the sprocket 52 on the iaek shaft 48 is rotated proportionately by way ofthe chain 49;. This Aresults in proportionaterotation of the yvertilcal feed shaft 9: and the shafts and associated with the. broadcasting. discs 17. 1

The material in the hopper 4r falls through the rotating screen 134 und Spider l2. As it xsifts down on tol vthe false bottom Ei it is "forced by the scrape-rs around into the openings 7, from whence it drops to the rotating disc 1d and into the open tunnel formed by the side of the hopper Li, the` upper face of and is thus positioned peripherally on the rotating disc lei.

Forward movement of the vehicle is adapt-- ed to elfect counter-clockwise rotation of the disc 14 and associated parts, as will be apparent by tracing action of the gear train in the drawings. This counter-clockwise movement causes the material to get in behind the diverters 19 and push them to their full open position so that the material is diverted V,through the openings 58, and into the chutes 8, from whence it descends dow-n on to the broadcasting discs to be projectedcentrifugally to the ground. It is to, be understood that the regulators 20 may be set at any voptimum position for effecting passage of i scribed above.

'any predetermined amount ofmaterial.

The counter-clockwise movement causes the material, through the frictional action of disc 14 and rib l5 to be carried under the solid portion ofthe false bottoni 6 and thus is con- 4fined and is under pressure as it reaches the opening-between regulator 59.l and rib 15. After passing through this pre-regulated opening it` gets behind the diverters as de- `springs may be provided to insure complete contact of diverter with rib l5.

As illustrated in Fig. 4:, the upper ends of the chutes 8 are open so that the amount and grade of material passing downl the same may be examined at alltimes. By this means a close check may be kept upontthe satisfactory operation ofthe machine by the man who fillsv the hopper.

As can be seen from the drawings, the aneogular velocities of the broadcasting discs are considerably higher than the angular velocity of the delivery disc 14 and associated parts (note the relative gear diameters).

When the truclg or` the like is reversed in direction 0f movement, the disc; 14. and: all

It is to be understood thatl other parts reversey in direction; of movement., The` direct consequence is that any material which is then at the periphery of disc 1111:` will close the diverters or defiectors 19. that no spreading action is eiected. 1 It will be seen that under normal conditions of opfA eratiom that is, when the disc 14 is movingY counter-clockwise. (Fig. 5);, that the eifeet of the friction between disc 14 and rib 15, and the material in the tunneiv is to till the tunnel space between the support 14, false bettom 6 and rib 15 so that there is provided effect a substantially constant pressure feed of material into the chutes 8. Ijt is to be understood that the openings are suiiicient- ,ly large, and/or the tunnel size sufficiently.

small, to provide, during counterclockwise rotation of said support, for the iilling. with material from the openings 7, of those porf tions of the tunnel between each opening 'Z and its. respective delivery chute. 8. In other words, the` diver-ters 19 and/or regulators 2Q are eective as throttles and the frictional action'of the disc 14 and rib 15 maintains material piled up against them at all times. Hence ycompensation is provided for yany irregular sifting action through the screenA 13 due to irregulark feeding of the machineby itsoperator. K

lt is to be understood that althoughl have shown a construction wherein twochutes and associated broadcasting discs are. used,- that nevertheless a greater plurality *or` only one set of these may be used. The chute y or chutes may also be placed in a position other than shown. In any event, it is preferable that the opening or openings 7 in the false bottoni be arranged in staggered relationship With respect to the chute or chutes 8 and attendant diverters and regulators. Thempurpose of this is to provide uninterruptedly the improved pressure action. It will not be interfered with by material coming in over said diverters and regulators.

It will be clear that the connections between the main shaft 9 and the members carv ried thereby may be made by set screws, keying, crown coupling, socketing or otherwise.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results at tained.

As many changes could be made in carrycommunicating therewith, a rotating material support therein, a false bottom forthe hopper located above said material support:

'Y l l g o :tunnel between said delivery means and fleast one so as to form afperipheral tunnel havingmoving bottom and innerv walls, means for delivering material into said tunnel to move therein, at least one'diverter within theV tun-VV .5 Anel on the receding side of the chute for diverting material thereto, the relation between the dimension of said tunnel and said 'delivery means being such as to substantially fill, with said materiah'that portion of the said diverter. Y Y

-QfA'distributor comprising a hopper, at least one sideward chute onthe hopper and Y`communicatingf therewith, a rotating man, terial support therein having a bottom and an'inn'er wall, a false bottom for the hopper located'above saidV material support so as to form a peripheral tunnel having movingv bot- ,tom and inner walls, means for delivering es 'material intoV said tunnel to move therein, at

least one diverter within the tunnel on the receding side of the chute Vfor diverting material thereto, the relation between the di-V mensionsofsaid tunnel and delivery means `beingV such as to substantially iill with said material that portion of said tunnel between said delivery means and said diverter and at least on'eregulator adapted to be adjustably i i, positioned in the tunnel for controllingpas- 33 Jsage of material.

AA distributor comprising a hopper, at least one sideward chute'on the hopper and communicating therewith, a rotating material support therein having a rib `formed 35 thereon, al false'bottom for thehopper lo? cated above said material support, ksaid support, hopper and bottom forming peripheral tunnel having moving bottom and inner walls, at least'oiie opening through thefalse ai) bottom placed'inl staggered relationship with respect to said chute and leading to said tunnel, theaniiular area of said tunnel being greater than the area of said opening.

4. A distributor comprising a hopper, at

sideward chute on the: hopper and communicating therewith, a rotating materialsupport therein having a rib formed thereon, a false bottom for the hop-v per located above said n'iaterialA support, said 5@ support, hopper and bottom forming arpevripheral tunnel having moving bottoni and side walls, at least one opening through the false bottom placed in staggered*relationship with respect to said' chute and opening into said tunnel, the annular'area of said *tunnel being greater than the area of said opening, a sifter above the Abottom movable with said material support and at least one pivoted di-A ,verter adapted to extend over the tunnelto divert material to the chute.

5. A distributor comprising a hopper, at,

. lleast one sideward chute on the hopper and communicating therewith, a rotating mater- Aial support therein, a false bottom for the hopper located above said material support,

at least one opening leadin through the false bottom'placed in staggere relationship with respect to said chute, a sitter above the bottomymovable with said material support and at least one pivoted diverter adapted to extend over the material support and below the Jfalse bottom so as to divert material to the chute when the material support moves in one 'direction but not when it moves in the reverse direction and atV least one regulator eirtendinor over the material support and belowT theV `false bottom, the receiving side of the chute and the regulator-on the approach side thereof so that the regulator controls the amountv of ma- .terial which is diverted into the chute by the diverter. l

6. A distributor comprisingv a hopper, at

least one sideward chute on the `hopper and communicating therewith, a -rotatingmaterial support therein, a false bottom for the at least one opening leading through the false bottom placed in staggered relationship with respect to said chute, a sitter above the-bottom movable with said'material support and yat least one pivoted diverter adapted to extend over the material support and below the false bottom so as to divert material to the chute'when the material support inovesin one direction but not when `it moves in the reverse direction and at least one regulator extending over the material support and bethereon, a false bottom for the hopper locat ed above said materia-l support, said hopper, bottom and support forming a' peripheral tunnel having' moving bottom and inner walls, at least one opening through the false bottom placed in staggered relationship with respect to said chutey and opening into said tunnel, said rotating tunnel being adapted to ydeliver material from said hopper to said chute at a substantially constant material feed pressure. Y

v 8. A distributor comprising a hopper, at

least one sideward chute on the hopper and' vcommunicating therewith, a rotating material support therein, a vfalse bottom vfor the hopper located above said material support and a ribon the material support below the V false bottoni arranged so as lto form a peripheral tunnelhaving a moving bottom an opening in said bottom leading 4into said tunnel,

said diverter being on Vhopper located above said material support, Y

the dimensional relationship between the annular area of said tunnel, and the area of said opening being such that the pressure of the material in said tunnel is independent of the gravitational pressure of th-e material in said hopper.

9. A distributor comprising a hopper, at least one sidewardchute on the hopper and communicating therewith, a rotating material support therein having a circumferential rib formed thereon, a false bottom for the hopper located above said material support said hopper, rib, support and bottom forining a peripheral tunnel having moving bottom and inner walls, and at least one diverter adapted to extend into said tunnel to divert material therefrom' to said chute, saidv tunnel being adapted to deliver material to said chute at a substantially constant pressure for a given speed of rotation of said support.

10. A distributor comprising a hopper, a

rotating material support therein having a rib formed thereon, a false bottom for the hopper located above said material support,

. said hopper, rib and bottom forming a peripheral tunnel having moving bottom and inner walls, at least one openingl leading through the periphery of the false bottom and to said tunnel an outlet fromI the hopper communicating with said tunnel, and the dimensional relationship between said tunnel and opening being such that the frictional pressure of said material at said outlet is substantially independent of the gravitational pressure of the material in said hopper at said opening.

11. A distributor comprising a hopper, a

rotating material support therein having a rib formed thereon, a false bottomv for th-e hopper located above said material support, said hopper, rib, and bottom forming a periplieral tunnel having moving bottom and inner walls, at least one opening through the periphery of the false bottom and leading into said tunnel, an outlet from the hopper communicating with said tunnel, and the dimensional relationship between said tunnel and opening being such that the frictional pressure of said material at said outlet is substantially7 constant at a given angular velocity of said support, and at least one regulator in said tunnel adapted to control the flow of material to said outlet.

12. A distributor comprising a hopper, a rotating material support therein having a rib formed thereon, a false bottom for the hopper located above said material support, said hopper, rib and bottom' forming a peripheral tunnelhaving moving bottom and inner walls, at least one opening in the' periphery of the false bottom leading into said tunnel, an outlet from the hopper communicating with said tunnel, said tunnel being adapted to deliver material from said hop'- pei' to said outlet by means of the'substantially constant frictional pressurek of `said material established at Vsaid outlet. y

13. Adistributor comprising a hopper, a

.rotating material support therein having a' rib formed thereon, a false bottom for the: `hopper located above said material support,

eating with-.said tunnel, and the dimensional l 'relationship between said tunnel and opening being such thatthefrictional pressure of said material yatsaid outlet is substantially con-` stant, at least one regulator in saidtunnel radapted tocontrol ythe flow of material yto said outlet, and at least one; diverter,v operable Vby movement of the-material, and extending as to deliver material to,

into said tunnel so said outlet. y

14. .A distributorcomprising a hopper, at least one sideward chute on the hopperl and communicating therewith, a rotating means in said hopper for delivering material underk frictional pressure to said'chute, a false bottom for said hopper located above said rotating means, and having at least one opening therethrough and into said rotating means, said opening being in staggered relationship to said chute, whereby said material in said hopper Hows through said opening into said rotational means and is delivered under constant frictional pressure to said chute, and

at least one regulating means positioned in 1,

said rotational means for regulating the flow of material to said chute.

15. A' distributor comprising a hopper, at

leastone sideward chuteon the hopper, and communicating therewith, a rotating means, j

having a rib formed thereon located in said hopper, a false bottom in said hopper located above said rotating means and having at least one peripheral opening therein, opening into said rotational means, said hopper, rib, rotational means, and bottom forming a peripheral rotating tunnel having a moving bottom and a moving inner wall, said tunnel being` adapted to effect a continuous, uninterrupted material pressure established by the frietional contact of the Walls and material, at said chute.

16. A distributor comprising a hopper, at least one sideward chute onthe hopper and communicatingtherewith, a stationary, upf f right, conically shaped false bottom in said hopper, a bearing in the vertex thereof, a

revolving shaft in said bearing, a conically .shaped sifter mounted on said shaft, and

above said false bottom, said sifter revolving with said shaft, and rotating means beneath said vfalse bottom for delivering material, fed thereto from said false bottom, at a substantially constant frictional pressure to said chute.

17. A distributor comprising' avhopper, yat j least one sideward chute on the hopper and Communicating therewith, a stationary, up-

' right, conicallyshaped'false bottom, in said hopper, a bearing in the vertex thereof, Va revolving shaft mounted in said bearing, a conically shaped sifter mounted on said shaft, and above said false bottom, said 'siter revolving With said shaft, and rotating means beneath said false bottom for delivering material, fed thereto from said false bottom, at

Ya substantially constant frictional pressure to said chute, at least oneregulator in said rotational mean-s for regulating the flow of material to said chute Without'interfering Y `with thelrotation of said rotational means and at least one diverter in said rotational means diverting the material, fed thereto, into Vsaid chute, said regulator and diverter being adapted to be regulated. E

In testimony whereof I have signed my e name to this specicationthis 26th day of March, 1929.

STEPHEN CHASE.

"as Y 

